GALLERY: Blind River uses strong start to take Game 1 vs. Rayside-Balfour

BLIND RIVER, Ont. – The Blind River Beavers used the strength of three first period goals to propel them to a 6-2 decision over the Rayside-Balfour Canadians in Game 1 of their Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League West Division semifinal Thursday at the Blind River Community Centre.

Showing no rust after having not played since March 5th, the Beavers came out flying in the first striking three times in a 15-minute span to take early control.

Mark Bastianello started the outburst at 2:47 while Dylan McMahon and Rockford Copiskey added later efforts to send the home side on their way.

Brock Brown upped the Blind River cushion to four 6:38 into the middle stanza on a power play only to see Rayside-Balfour’s Ronson Odjig counter just 34 seconds later to give the visitors some life.

However Andrew Trowbridge got that back at 14:15 to extend the Beavers’ lead.

Heading into the third, Matthew Neault collected his first of the series four minutes in, during a man advantage, to bring the Canadians closer.

Blind River would eventually secure the victory late as Yianni Liarakos wrapped things up offensively with his initial playoff tally while finishing off a three-point night in the process as his shorthanded goal rounded out the scoring with 3:29 remaining.

Zak Lambrecht dished out three assists to aid the Beavers’ cause.

Aidan Doak made 35 stops to post the win for Blind River.

Cameron Lamour started for Rayside-Balfour and suffered the loss allowing the six against on 41 attempts.

Game 2 of this best-of-seven set goes Saturday at 7:30 p.m. back in Blind River.